Prevent Themes from Changing Desktop Icons and Mouse Cursors

A theme file can contain references to custom Visual Styles, namespace icons, mouse pointers, window metrics, colors and other visual elements. If you wish to preserve the existing icons for the namespace items such as Computer, Documents, Recycle Bin, Network etc, you can change a setting so that applying a custom theme does not affect the existing desktop icons and mouse cursors.

Lock down the desktop icons during theme change

Right-click on the Desktop and choose Personalize

Click the Change desktop icons link in the left pane

Note: Alternately, you can use the following command to launch this dialog, which works in Windows 7 through Windows 10.

control desk.cpl,,0

Uncheck the following option and click OK

Allow themes to change desktop icons

Lock down the mouse pointers during theme change

Right-click on the Desktop and choose Personalize



Click the Change mouse pointers link in the left pane

Uncheck the following option and click OK

Allow themes to change mouse pointers

The above settings apply to all versions of Windows, including Windows 10.


One small request: If you liked this post, please share this?

One "tiny" share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog. Some great suggestions:
  • Pin it!
  • Share it to your favorite blog + Facebook, Reddit
  • Tweet it!
So thank you so much for your support. It won't take more than 10 seconds of your time. The share buttons are right below. :)

Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

2 thoughts on “Prevent Themes from Changing Desktop Icons and Mouse Cursors”

Leave a Comment